Color / American Vista (1:1.85) / 2010 / 128 min / NTV, SHUEISHA, TOHO, YTV, VAP, Amuse, D.N. dreampartners, Production I.G,, NIKKATSU, STV, MMT, SDT, CTV, HTV, FBS

 

Director: KUMAZAWA Naoto

Script: NEZU Rika, KUMAZAWA Naoto

Based on the novel by: SHIINA Karuho

Cinematography: FUJII Masayuki

Art Direction: HASHIMOTO Yu

Music: YASUKAWA Goro

Producers: SALUT Takahiro

 

Cast:

TABE Mikako: KURONUMA Sawako

MIURA Haruma: KAZAHAYA Shota

 

Synopsis:

April – High School Commencement Ceremony

Sawako Kuronuma (Mikako Tabe) is a serious and praiseworthy young girl. Although her motto is, “One good deed a day,” her sinister looks provoke fear in her fellow students, earning her the label, “Sadako” (a character from the horror film “Ring” directed by Hideo Nakata). It’s precisely because she cares about how other people feel that she’s not good at expressing herself. Consequently, she always seems out of place. Sawako first meets Shota Kazehaya (Haruma Miura) when she gives him directions to the high school “Commencement Ceremony.” She later discovers that they are in the same class.

 

May – Classmate

Open and friendly Kazehaya, on the other hand, gets along with everyone and is equally popular with both male and female students. Although Sawako is initially bemused by the friendly way in which Kazehaya treats her, she gradually begins to experience feelings of admiration and respect. Meanwhile, Kazehaya finds himself drawn to Sawako as she works behind the scenes carrying out school chores.

 

July – Test of Courage

Just before the summer holidays, Kazehaya encourages the hesitant Sawako to take part in the “Test of Courage” event that he is organizing, to be attended by everyone in the class. Sawako overhears Chizuru Yoshida (Misako Renbutsu) and Ayane Yano (Natsuna) talking about her in the classroom – “Don’t you think Sadako would make the perfect ghost?” Eager to be of assistance, Sawako volunteers for the role. The Test of Courage is a resounding success and she feels closer to Chizuru, Ayane and, of course, Kazehaya.

 

September – Swapping Desks

The second semester commences and it’s time to swap desks. No one dares go near Sawako’s desk for fear of being “cursed,” but Kazehaya takes it upon himself to sit right next to her. Chizuru, Ayane and Ryu Sanada (Haru Aoyama) follow suit and sit in the remaining desks around Sawako. Popular and pretty Ume Kurumizawa – known to everyone as Kurumi – is an ex-classmate of Kazehaya from junior high. Sawako’s school-life becomes even livelier when Kurumi tries to make friends our heroine.

 

September – Friendship

Sawako has started to feel at ease around Chizuru and Ayane, but after overhearing the heartless comments of other students, she begins to avoid them. At the same time, Chizuru and Ayane stumble across a vicious rumor that is circling the school, supposedly instigated by Sawako. Kazehaya can’t bear to see the rift between the three girls and acting upon his advice, Sawako single-handedly confronts the girls who are badmouthing Chizuru and Ayane. At last, the three girls reconnect, prompting Chizuru to say, “Didn’t you know? Real friends don’t even notice when they became friends.” For the first time in her life, Sawako has friends.

 

October – Sports Festival

Sawako, Chizuru and Ayane play in the girls’ soccer team, while Kazehaya and Ryu do well at softball. Caught up in the class excitement, Sawako and Kazehaya exchange an awkward high five. Summoned by Kurumi, who witnesses the high five, Sawako is told an important secret. Meeting the assorted barrage of words hurled at her by Kurumi, Sawako becomes conscious of a certain feeling starting to stir within her.

 

November – After School

After school, everyone takes a detour to the Ramen shop run by Ryu’s family. Just as Sawako is growing accustomed to the after school fun, in accordance with her father’s proposal, she agrees to commute back and forth from school by bus during the winter. The situation forces Kazehaya to make a decision. And as Sawako witnesses the love lives of Chizuru and Ayane at close quarters, she starts to think about her own romance.

 

December – Christmas

At long last it’s Christmas. Kazehaya has organized a party for the entire class, but his dream of an ideal Christmas lies elsewhere. Although she longs to attend the Christmas party with her classmates, Sawako can’t quite pluck up the courage and puts the feelings of her mother and father first. Will Kazehaya let Sawako know how he feels? Will Sawako tell Kazehaya how much he means to her